Greece Says it Won't Assist Iranian Tanker Sought by US

Greece said on Wednesday it won’t endanger its relations with the United States by aiding an Iranian supertanker sought by the U.S. but released by Gibraltar that’s currently in the Mediterranean Sea, believed heading for a Greek port.Deputy Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis said Athens is under pressure from U.S. authorities, which claim the Iran-flagged Adrian Darya 1 is tied to a sanctioned organization.He told private Antenna TV that the 330-meter (1,000-foot) tanker is too big anyway to enter any Greek port and can’t legally unload its $130 million worth of light crude at EU refineries.The vessel can still enter Greek waters or anchor offshore, in which case Athens will “see” what it will do, Varvitsiotis added.US Warns Against 'Facilitating' Freed Iranian TankerThe State Department message follows decision by Gibraltar to free the Adrian Darya 1 despite US objectionsThe affair is threatening to suck Greece into a growing confrontation between Iran and the West after President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers over a year ago. Trump subsequently re-imposed escalating sanctions on Iran, largely halting the sale of Iran’s crude oil internationally and sharply depreciating Iran’s currency.The supertanker left Gibraltar on Sunday after being held up for a month for allegedly attempting to breach EU sanctions on Syria.Gibraltar authorities rejected attempts by the U.S. to seize the Adrian Darya 1, arguing that EU regulations are less strict than U.S. sanctions on Iran. Gibraltar also said Iran provided assurances the tanker wouldn’t unload its cargo in Syria.The ship’s declared destination is the southern Greek port of Kalamata, where a vessel of that size and draught would only be able to anchor at least half a mile offshore.Previously named Grace 1, the ship is now in the waters off Algeria and expected to reach Kalamata on Aug.... If you wish to read this full breaking news headline, plus more articles from around Thailand and Asia like, Greece Says it Won't Assist Iranian Tanker Sought by US, simply click on
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